Absorption refrigerating system



Oct. 7,1941,

N. ERLAND AF KLEEN ABSORPTION REFRIGERATING SYSTEM .Filed Jan.

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTG-l NILS ATTGQNEYS af KLEEN Oct. 7, 1941. N. ERLAND AF KLEEN 2,257,735

ABSORPTION REFRIGERATING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 20, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 nmmwm NILS E. a; 1mm BY ATTGiNEYS Oct. -7, 1941.

LRIGE'QATING SYSTEM- 5 Sheeis-Slieet Oct. 7, 1941. N.ERLAND AF KLEEN 2,257,735

ABSORPTION REFRIGERATING SYSTEM 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 20, 1938 75 NILS E. at 151%? By ATTGINEYS Patented Oct. 7 1941 ABSORPTION REFRIGERATING SYSTEM Nils Erland a! Kleen, London, England Application January 20, 1938, Serial No. 185,978

In Great Britain January 22, 1937 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to absorption or adsorption refrigerating systems of the kind em.- ploying one or more intermittently operating units and where more than one unit is used there is obtained substantially continuous refrigeration. Each vunit includes a generator-absorber, condenser and an evaporator. For convenience hereinafter the term adsorption may be taken as included within the term absorption.

It has already been proposed to employ two intermittently, Operating units arranged to function alternately by automatically tilting the generator-absorbers, or in some instances the liquid refrigerant collecting tanks, to obtain continuous refrigeration in such a manner that one of thelunits controls the other. It is preferable with absorption refrigerating systems to eliminate as far as possible moving parts and. it is the object of the present invention to provide an absorption refrigerating system embodying one or more intermittently operating units in which moving parts have been substantially eliminated, such a system operating simply and reliably .and with an overall efficiency greater than has been obtained hitherto.

The invention contemplates the provision of a method for controlling or regulating the heatingup or vaporising period of the generator-absorber (during which period the refrigerant is driven off in the form of a vapour) and the absorption period (during which the refrigerant is absorbed in the absorbent). I

It is known that for different absorbents and different refrigerants the amount of refrigerant which can be absorbed or adsorbed up to saturation differs in each case. Let it be assumed, for example, that calcium chloride is the absorbent and ammonia the refrigerant then the absorbent can absorb (or be saturated with, at normal temperatures) eight molecules of the refrigerant, or in other words, 1 kg. of calcium chloride can absorb 1.225 kgs. of ammonia; now in order not to cause a deterioration of therefrigerant and/or absorbent the temperature must not be raised above the critical temperature of ammonia and it isfound that sixmolecules only ofxammonia can safely. be, driven off, for to, drive off the full eight molecules vwill require a temperature greater thanthe criticaltemperature of the refrigerant with ,consequent deterioration thereof.

fIhe improved method of the invention resides ;in thecontrolof the refrigerating process in accordance with the temperature conditions of the absorbent in such manner that when the absorbfentr has reached a predetermined temperature frigerant.

(for example, during the heating-up or vaporising period) the heat supply to the absorbent is cut off and when the temperature in the absorbent has fallen to a predetermined value (e. g. during the absorption period) the heat is again supplied to the generator-absorber. In other words the temperature conditions obtaining in the absorbent control and regulate the cycle of operations in the refrigerating process. When ammonia is used as the refrigerant and adry salt such as strontium chloride is used as the absorbent, the temperature at which the heat supply is out off is so chosen that two molecules of refrigerant per molecule of absorbent remain in the generator at the end of the heating period.

Where two or more intermittently operating units are employed to give substantially continuous refrigeration the method of this invention may be'applied so that the temperature conditions obtaining in the generator-absorber of one unit control the cutting-off of the heat supply to said unit and the switching over of said heat supply to the next unit in sequence. This operation takes place in a cycle from one unit to the next, if there be more than two, until the operation is repeated in the first unit.

As an example an absorption refrigerating system includes two intermittentlyoperating units each comprising a generator-absorber, condenser and evaporator.

Heat may be supplied to each generatorabsorber by means of gas, electricity, 'oil or in any other manner.

,The arrangement of the two intermittently operating units is such that when the one is being heated to drive off refrigerant vapour to the condenser and evaporator, the other is absorbing back refrigerant driven off in the previous cycle,

sets of cooling coils.

Each generator-absorber includes-a.v chamber for the absorbentwhich may be water, one of the halogen saltspsuch as strontimum chloride or other suitable absorbent and the refrigerant may be ammonia-(which is absorbed very: readily by, for example, strontium chloride) or other re- This chamber is surrounded by a cooling jacket and cooling fins. Passing centrally through this chamber is a a heating flue whilst-a thermostat is inserted in said chamber. (in the application of heat the refrigerant vapour is driven off from the generator-absorber and passes to its associatedcondenser, where it is condensed and the condensed refrigerant collects in its associated collecting tank and at the same time surrounds the evaporator coils, this action taking place during the'heating-up period of the one generator-absorber.

When the temperature of the absorbent in theone generator-absorber reaches a predetermined value the thermostat associated with that gen-' erator-absorber operates to switch the source of heat from the first to the second generatorabsorber, the second generator-absorber then functioning in a manner similar to that described for the first generator-absorber. The first generator-absorber now commences to re-absorb the refrigerant from the collecting tank and evapoclosely with the evaporating and absorption period of the other generator-absorber and to ensure that these periods do closely correspond auxiliary mechanism operated automatically or manually may be supplied.

Each generator-absorber may be cooled during the evaporating and. absorption period by the circulation of cooling fluid in a secondary system or may be air cooled either naturally or forced.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 shows, somewhat diagrammatically, an application of the invention to a single intermittently operating unit:

Figure 1A is a diagram showing the cyclical control of the source of heat;

Figure 1B is a view similar .to Figure 1A showing the function of an additional device arranged in the system for controlling the source of heat;

Figure 2 shows diagrammatically the application of the invention to two intermittently oper- It will be clear that the switching over of the heatsource from the one generator-absorber to the other may be effected in a number of ways different from that described above, for example,

. ,a shutter or damper could be arranged in the heating flue to permit or prevent the application of heat to that fiue'and furthermore, to facilitate. the cooling'of the one generator-absorberfor the absorption period, a second shutter could be arranged in the heating flue to open simultaneously with the closing of the damper to permit cooling air to flow through said'flue.

If electrical heating means be employed any ating unitsfunctioning alternately;

Figure 3 is a modification of the invention of I Figure 2';

Figure '4 shows schematically the c'ontrolof the supply of the heatsource; and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 of yet a further modification of the invention.

Figures 6 and 7 are diagrammatic illustrations of a snap action mechanism for the thermostatic control.

" Referring to Figure 1 the boiler-absorber ll surrounding the heating'flue i2 carries trays or pockets is for the reception of a dry salt I, such as strontium chloride. An outlet pipe I! conveys gaseousrefrigerant to the condenser, collecting tank and evaporator (not shown) in the suitable well-known switching over device may The switching over of the heat supply-from the one generator-absorber to the other should preferably be effected when the temperature in the first generator-absorber has risen to a predetermined value which in the case of ammonia is approximately 120 C. With other refrigerants and/or other absorbents this temperature will be either greater or less but in all cases the switching over should be rapid when the predetermined temperature is reached and for-this purpose the thermostat or other device should be arranged to have a snap action.

the collecting tank'to the generator-absorber,

any liquid refrigerant being trapped and fed back to the bottom of the generator-absorberwhere it may evaporate before absorption. I

As indicated above the heating;;up period of usual manner. The boiler-absorber II is heated by means of the gas burner l6 although it should be understood that any other source of heat may ates to close the gas inlet to the burner II.

Figure 1A is a curve of temperature with respect to time, the portion a of the curve shows 1 the heatingup period before the thermostat is operated to cut off the supply oi gas. At the point A the thermostat operates, the gsssuppiy is cut off and the temperature of the boilerabsorbercools in;accordance with the curve b and when the point B is reached the thermostat cuts out and the operation is repeated over the afiIJllfl-SG with, the first unit. the one generator-absorber should correspond The boiler-absorber 2| carrying the dry salts system, for example, in juxtaposition to the evaporator.

The curve 0 indicates'the temperature in such part of thesystem, at which temperature the auxiliary thermostat is actuated.

, Figuref2 shows two alternately and intermittently operating units and the following description will be limited to the one unit, it being understood clearly that the cycle of operations of the second unit is identical with, but out of carr es 22, such as strontium chloride, surrounds the heating flue 23 and is itself surrounded by a cooling jacket 24 and fins 25. A gas burner 25 movement of the burner 26 about its pivot 33.

The drawing shows also a secondary cooling system in which a heat conducting medium is placed within the cooling jacket 24 during the flapper or other valve may be used in place of the disc valve described.

Figure shows the control in a two unit alternately operating system, in accordance with predetermined temperatures in a specific part of the system, e. g. in the cabinet of the refrigerator.

absorbing period and is dispelled therefrom to a condenser 34 common to both intermittently operating units during the heating up period. The expulsion of the heat conducting medium is effected by heating the medium in the jacket through the intermediary oi the portion 35 disposed within the heating flue 23. The fins 25 are insulated from the boiler-absorber 2| by the cork or like insulating pieces 36.

When the temperature of the absorbent in the boiler-absorber which is acting for the time being as a generator reaches a predetermined value, the thermostat 3| associated with that boilerabsorber operates to switch over the burner 26 so as to heat up the second boiler-absorber and to permit the first boiler-absorber to cool. When the temperature of the absorbent in the second boiler-absorber reaches a predetermined value, the thermostat 3| associated with the second boiler-absorber operates to switch the burner 26 back to the first boiler-absorber. Thetwo units thus operate alternately, each change over being efiected when the temperature of the boilerabsorber which is acting ior the time being as a generator reaches a predetermined value.

According to Figure 3 the burner 31 is fixed and the heat is permitted to pass to the one or the other heating flue 38 or 39 in accordance with the position of vanes 40, 4i, hinged in said flue, the movement of said vanes being under the control of a thermostat in a. manner similar to that described in connection with Figure 2. In the drawings the right hand boiler-absorber is shown flue 39 whereas cool air'is admitted to theflue 30 through the now open vane 40 to assist in cooling the left hand boiler-absorber throughout its absorption period.

Figure 4 shows diagrammatically one gas supply piping arrangement. Gas is admitted through the pipe 45, to a chamber 46 formed with two sets of ports 41, 40 and 49, 50 which are valves 50 and 50. 'When the valve 5| switches over, supply to the burner is cut ofi and gas 'now passes through reducing valve II to burner 52, an increase in pressure occurs at the-jet 6'5 and the burner 52 lights up.

Adjustment of the supply is effected by means of the several reducing or throttle valves. A

as being heated, the vane 4I being open to the The two boiler absorbers A and A are connected with a condenser C, two collecting tanks T and T' and evaporator coils E and E arranged within a cabinet II, shows diagrammatically. A gas burner 12 is arranged to be rocked by thermostats 13 and 14 in a manner similar to that described in connection with Figure 2.

Gas supply to the burner 12 is through a flexible pipe length 15, through a throttle valve 10 from the main 11, a by-pass 18 maintaining the supply to keep the flame burning. The throttle valve 16 is actuated in response to a thermostat I9 arranged in proximity to the evaporator within the cabinet.

It is essential that the thermostats I3 and i i actuate the burner 12 with a snap action, but the thermostat 19 need not have such action.

A preferred form of snap action switching mechanism is illustrated diagrammatically in Figures 6 and '7 of the drawings. I

The mechanism comprises an actuating spring I04 adapted to be gradually loaded by the action of a bellows device I06 and a detent I08 adapted to release-the spring so as to bring about a sudden actuation of the switching mechanism when the temperature of the thermostat reaches a predetermined value.

The spring I00 takes the form of. a springy plate fixed at one endto a block I03 mounted so that it is free to rotate on a spindle I02 mounted on suitable fixed supports. The bellows I05 tends to rock the block I03 and plate I00 to the left as seen in the drawing and a control spring I0] is arranged to act in opposition to the bellows.

The upper end of the springy plate I 04'engages in a recess formed in a drum I00 fixed to a rock-shaft IOI supported in suitable bearings (not shown) fixed above the spindle I02, the 3.1? rangement being such that the pressure of the bellows I00 acting through the plate I04 tends to rotate the drum I00 in the clockwise direction as seen in Figure 6.

The detent I08, which is controlled by a spring I09, is arranged to engage a ratchet tooth or like projection 0 on the drum I00 so as to hold the drumagainst rotation in the clockwise direction. A rigid lever III fixed to the block I03 is arranged to engage and move the detent I08 so as to disengage the same from the tooth I I0 when the temperature of the thermostat connected to the bellows I00 reaches a predetermined limit. As the bellows I06 expands with rising temperature, the springy plate I04 is gradually loaded. At the same time the detent I00 is gradually displaced by the action of the lever II I. When the set temperature is reached, the detent I00 clears the tooth H0 and the drum I00 and rock shaft I0! then receive a sudden partialrotation in the clockwise direction under the action of the spring A detent wa similar to the detent I08 is arranged to lock the drum I00 in its new position by engagement with a tooth 0' similar to the tooth III, and a lever III is provided for the purpose of disengaging the detent and thereby permitting the drum I00 to be restored to its first position atthe appropriate time.

In the ease of a single unit system such as that shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, where there is only one thermostat, the lever IIIemay be fixed to the block I03. In such case, as the bellows I06 contracts with falling temperature the pressure of the control spring I01 will tend to impart anti-clockwise rotation to the drum I through the medium of the plate I00, As the temperature continues to fall, the springy plate I04 is gradually loaded and the detent I08 is gradually displaced. At a predetermined mmperature, the detent I08 clears the tooth H0 and the drum I00 and shaft I0i are then suddenly restored to the position shown in the drawings under the action of the sprlngy plate I04.

In the case of a two-unit system such as that shown in Figure 2, in which two thermostats are employed, one of the thermostats is connected to the bellows I06 and the other is connected to a second bellows I0Ii (see Figure '7). A separate block I03, pringy plate I04 and control spring I01 are provided in connection with the bellows I06, these parts being similar to the parts I03,

I 0| and' I01 previously described, but being arranged to work in the opposite direction so that the expansion of the bellows I06 tends to rotate the drum I00 in the anti-clockwise direction. In this case, the lever III is fixed to the block I03 so that the release of the detent I00 will be effected by the expansion of the bellows I06 and will occur when the temperature of the thermostat connected to the bellows I06 reaches a preset limit. In Figure '7 of the drawings, the parts I06, I01, I03 and II I are omitted in order to permit the part I03 and I0!- to be seen.

It will be appreciated that the movements of the rock shaft IOI can be utilised for actuating the rocking burner shown at 26 in Figure 2 or for operating any gas valve mechanism or electrical switch mechanism for effecting the required change over.

The snap action visional application ber 16, 1939."

I claim: 1. In absorption refrigerating apparatus of the intermittent type, including at least two genera- Serial No. 299,774, flled Octotor-absorbers, means for heating said generatorabsorbers, and means for selectively switching said heating means from one generator-absorber ons, spring means cooperating with arenas and movable between two .operlatch means for holding said member in each of its operating positions, pivoted spring means operatively connected to said member, separate elements responsive. to the temperature in respective generator-absorbers and movable from a rethermostatic controlling de- I vice herein disclosed is claimed per se in my dioperating position to the other by said spring said movable member to move the latter from one operating position to the other, and vice versa,-detent means for holding said member in its respective operating podtlons, a pair or tempasture-responsive elements in thermal contact to load said spring means alternately in opposite directions, and separate means operable by respective temperature-responsiveelements for releasing said detent means when the temperature in the generator-absorber being heated reaches a maximum, whereby said member is quickly moved irom one operating position to 7 'with respective generator-absorbers and adapted class described and including two units operable tracted position to an extended position, said elements cooperating with said spring means to load the latter alternately in opposite directions, and separate means each operable by respective temperature-responsive elements for releasing said latch means when the temperature in the generator-absorber being heated reaches a predetermined maximum, whereby said member is quickly moved from once! its operating positions to the other by saidspring means.

3. In absorption refrigerating apparatus of the intermittent type, including two generator-absorbers, a flue in each generator-absorber, and a burner cooperating with said lines and rockable from a position in which it supplies heat to one generator-absorber to a position in which it supplies heat to the other generator-absorber; a

unitary snap-action thermostatic device for rocking said burner from one position to the other, comprising a member operatively connected to said burner and movable between two operating positions, spring means cooperating with said said spring'means'alternately in opposite directions, and separate means operable by respective temperature-responsive elements for selectively releasing said resisting means when the temperature in the generator-absorber being heated reaches a predetermined maximum, whereby said member is quickly moved from one means.

4. In absorption refrigerating apparatus or the intermittent type and including two generatorabsorbers,,agas burner for each of said generator-absorbers, main valve means for controlling the supply of gas to each gas burner, a pilot jetfor each of said burners, and reducing valvemeans' for controlling each pilot jet; a unitary snap-action thermostatic device for selectively controlling said gas burners and said pilot jets, comprising a rocking member operatively con-' nected to said main and reducing valve means and movable between two operating positions,

one of said operating positions opening the main and reducing valve means to one gas burner and closing the corresponding valve. means to the second gas burner, and the other operating posi-' tion closing the main and reducing valve meansof the first gas burner and opening the corresponding valve means to the second gas burner, spring -means cooperating with said rocking member to move the latter from one operating position to the other, and vice versa, detent l means for holding said rocking member in each of its operating positions, a pair of temperatureresponsive elements in thermal contact with respective generator-absorbers, adapted to load said spring means alternately in opposite directions, and separate means each operable by releasing said detent means when the temperature,

,in the generator-absorber being heated reaches a predetermined maximum, whereby said rocking member is quickly moved from one operating po- 5 sition to the other by said spring means.

ms ERLAND ll! KLEEN. 

